Real Madrid are synonymous with big-money signings. Jude Bellingham, Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale all arrived for over €100m, while Cristiano Ronaldo remains the most expensive transfer when adjusted for football inflation.
But what about the ones who got away, the players who left Madrid?
Here are 8 players Real Madrid regret selling in recent history.
Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi was part of the Real Madrid set up for over a decade, having joined the youth academy in 2006. The Moroccan only made 17 appearances for the first team, before joining Borussia Dortmund on loan and eventually Inter Milan on a permanent contract.
It was after his move to PSG in 2021 that Hakimi began to flourish into the world-class talent he is today. PSG boast the strongest full-back partnership in world football, with Hakimi and Nuno Mendes combining brilliantly to offer defensive shape and overlapping attack support.
Real Madrid are stacked in the right-back position, with Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold among the best in the world – but Hakimi is a level above.
Theo Hernandez
Hernandez is another world-class full-back who broke through into Real’s first team in 2017. However, as with Hakimi, he was never able to consistently break into the starting eleven and was subsequently sold.
At AC Milan, Hernandez’s pace and attacking ability saw him mature into one of Europe’s most dangerous left-backs. Madrid’s decision to let him go looks like a missed opportunity, especially considering the club’s ongoing challenges in securing a world-class left-back since Marcelo’s departure in 2022.
Arjen Robben
Robben arrived from Chelsea in 2007, expected to be a marquee signing. Despite showing glimpses of his renowned ability, injuries and inconsistent form limited his impact across 65 appearances.
He left for Bayern Munich in 2009, where he became a superstar, winning multiple Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League. Madrid’s regret stems from the contrast between his potential at the time and the sustained world-class output he delivered at Bayern, proving they let a world-class winger slip through their fingers.
Wesley Sneijder
Sneijder was another high-profile arrival in the summer of 2007. He showed technical brilliance but struggled to consistently dominate in a star-studded midfield.
Sneijder was sold to Inter Milan in 2009, where he became the driving force behind Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning side in 2010. Madrid arguably regretted the sale because Sneijder’s peak years highlighted what the club lost in terms of creative midfield control.
Claude Makélélé
Makélélé joined Real Madrid in 2000 from Celta Vigo and quickly became the linchpin of their midfield.
Despite being vital to Madrid’s dominance, he was sold to Chelsea in 2003. Makélélé had asked for an improved contract, which was turned down. His fellow players instantly knew Madrid would regret the move; Hierro called Makélélé “the best player in the team for years”, with Zidane publicly stating “Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine”.
The sale is often cited as one of Madrid’s biggest mistakes, as they struggled for years to find a defensive midfield anchor of his quality, a role that was central to their prior success and balance in the Galácticos era.
Esteban Cambiasso
Cambiasso played for Real Madrid from 1999 to 2004 but never fully established himself as a starter, largely in Makélélé’s shadow.
He moved to Inter Milan, where he became a world-class defensive midfielder and a key part of multiple Serie A-winning sides.
Madrid’s regret is in hindsight – Cambiasso could have offered an equally intelligent and disciplined midfield option to fill the void left after Makélélé’s departure.
Martin Ødegaard
Ødegaard joined Real Madrid as a 16-year-old in 2015 amid huge hype but struggled to break into a team packed with established stars.
He was loaned to multiple clubs before making a permanent move to Arsenal in 2022. Madrid’s potential regret is nuanced – while Ødegaard has become an influential playmaker in the Premier League, he arguably never got the consistent chances he needed at the Bernabéu. Ødegaard wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter ahead of Jude Bellingham or Arda Güler, but the Norwegian has delivered on his early potential.
Nico Paz
Paz is a young prospect who is starting to flourish away from the Bernabeu. The Argentine has started the season well for Como, with three goals and three assists in six Serie A appearances already.
However, Real have learnt their lessons in the transfer market and inserted a buyback clause in his contract – a €10 million option in 2026 and an €11 million option in 2027.
In this case, there’s no real regret yet – Madrid have the option to reclaim a potentially high-ceiling talent without committing too early.
